Vehicle seat



Sept. 27, 1960 Filed Feb. 15, 1957 Fig.1

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 27, 1960 H. KUHLMANN 2,954,078

VEHICLE SEAT Filed Feb. 15, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 27, 1960 FiledFeb. 13, 1957 H. KUHLMANN 2,954,078

VEHICLE SEAT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 27, 1960 H. KUHLMANN 2,954,078

VEHICLE SEAT Filed'Feb. 13, 1957 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 g z v 44) 22 E JMY// {I R/Ir Fig.7.

P 1960 H. KUHLMANN I 2,954,078

VEl-IiCLE' SEAT I Filed Feb. 13, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet '5 VEHICLE SEATHeinz Kuhlmann, Bielefeld, Germany, assignor to Kek Seat Corporation,Baldwin, N.Y.

Filed Feb. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 639,967

Claims priority, application Germany Feb. 15, 1956 8 Claims. (Cl.155-191) The invention relates to vehicle seats and refers moreparticularly to an improved mounting for the seat of operators oftractors and the like.

The present invention contemplates an improved seat assembly where theseat cover is held at its rear and lateral edges by continuoussupporting elements and is engaged at the center of its front edge byanother supporting element; a plate-shaped elastic back embraces therear edge and at least part of the lateral edges of the seat and issecured to said continuous supporting elements; the supporting elementsare mounted on a frame with which the seat is secured to the vehicle.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a seat structure ofthe character described, wherein the seat and the back are mounted in avery simple manner and which consists of a minimum number of members.

It is another object of the invention to provide a seat which can bemounted in a minimum of time.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specification and claims.

According to the invention, the supporting elements for the rear edgeand the lateral edges of the seat cover have an upwardly directed part,which is provided with a groove extending in the circumferentialdirection of the seat cover, and the seat cover and/or the back areprovided with a corresponding bead which engages said groove; means areprovided which keep said bead and groove in engagement.

The bead is preferably disposed on the outside of the back at its loweredge. The seat cover, which is designed as a simple plate cover, may beprovided with a downward extension carrying the bead; in a preferredembodiment of the invention, said bead extends under the lower edge ofthe back and thus holds the seat cover.

Various embodiments of the invention are illustrated, by way of example,in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows a seat structureaccording to the invention in a section taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a bottom elevational view of the seat according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the seat according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line IVIV ofFig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a top elevational view of the seat according to Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view showing a modified back portion of aseat according to the invention;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views of two embodiments of the supportingelement at the front edge of the back portion;

Fig. 9 shows in a partial section an embodiment where the back isintegral with the seat;

Fig. 10 shows an embodiment where the supporting bar is arranged on theinside of the seat cover and a clamping band is arranged at the outsidethereof;

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of the fastening similar United StatesPatent 0 "ice In the embodiment of the invention according to Figs. 1 to3, the supporting frame of the seat is formed by two profiled bands 2,4, which cross each other and are rigidly connected at their crossingpoint, for example by spot welding. In the upwardly directed frontportion 6 ofthe band 4, a tongue 8 forms two tubular recesses, in whichthe front supporting frame member 10 is inserted. The other arms of thesupporting frame are each rigidly connected with the horizontal portion12 of an angular supporting element 14, which extends in a U-bend aroundthe rear edge and a substantial part of the lateral edges of the seatcover 16. The seat cover 16, which consists preferably of rubber, isprovided in the center of the front. edge with a loop 18 engaged by thesupporting frame member 10. Said member 10 is U-shaped and forms in thecenter of the front edge an upwardly projecting nose 20 (Fig. 3).Between the nose 20 and the front ends of the supportingelement 14, thefront edge 15 of the cover is arranged without support, so that it iseasily pressed down by the thighs of the op-v erator, whereby the nose20 ofiers a saddle-like support for the legs. Due to the fact that alsothe seat plate projects for a limited distance freely over the frontends of the supporting element 14, (at 17 in Fig. 2), the front edge ofthe cover can bend down under load. In this way, the front edge of theseat cover 16 is prevented from cutting into the thighs.

In the area of the supporting element 14, the seat cover 16 is providedwith a downwardly extending portion 22.

The supporting element 14 has an upwardly extending portion 24 providedwith a groove arranged approximately at its half-way line and extendingover the entire length of the supporting element 14.

The seat is also provided with a back 26, which is designed in the formof a plate and which consists preferably of rubber or another suitableelastic material. The back extends along the rear edge and at least partof the lateral edges of the base. The back carries at its lower edge anoutwardly projecting head 28, whose shape corresponds to the shape ofthe groove in the portion 24 and engages said groove. The downwardlyextending portion 22 of the seat cover 16 carries at its lower end anoutwardly projecting bead 30 which engages the lower edge of the back.Said portion 22 of the seat cover and the lower edge of the back 26 arePressed by a tensioning ring 32 against the portion '24 of thesupporting element 14, which thus holds the bead 28 in engagement withthe groove in the portion 24 and the bead 30 in engagement with thegroove formed between the lower edge of the seat cover and thehorizontal portion of the supporting element 14.

The ring 32 can be formed from a simple flat sheet.

In the represented embodiment, it has an angular form,

with the horizontal leg 27 extending under the seat cover 26. This way,cutting of the clamp into the edges of the horizontal plate of the seatcover and the portion 22 is avoided. The clamp is held in its clampingposition by suitable means, for example by a metal plate 34 arranged atthe front ends of the supporting element 14 which is flanged at 36 afterthe clamp has been inserted. Obviously, it is also possible to press outfrom the horizontal portion 12 of the supporting element 14 suitablenoses between which the clamp is fixed.

Since the seat cover often slopes rearwardly, means must be provided, bywhich accumulated water can be removed. To this end, a few drain holesmay be arranged in the back portion at the level of the seat cover,preferably such holes 33 extend vertically downward be- 3 .tweenthe.verticalportionlZ of the seat. cover and the back, for example asindicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1. These holes can'be eithervulcanized into the g.trespe.etivemembers,or. theyrcan bebored:subsequently.

4 into. the corresponding. groove .of the supporting element 70. Fig. 10shows another embodiment, where the supporting element 72 is arranged atthe inside of the seat cover.

In the modification: shown. infigs. 4-..- and.5;:-the;,sup- 5 Thevertical portion 74 is provided with an i y r-porting frame .consists ofa 'P31'L-ShflP.6d-i member ili in- Pmssed g At 2 1 1 611d, Said Portion74 is tegral with the supporting member 42, whichwconsists of gularlybent to form a horiz n arm Which, as the-.horizontalarrn 44 and theupturnedvertical extension i d above, erv s-toprev n cutting into thseat 2146.1 Also in .this embodiment, a seat coverv is used which-.:c0ver.- The seat cover r76 isiproivided with a-downwardly is providedin the center ofth front-,edgewith 3 10013 48 10 extending portion-7which has a-be'ad-atzits inside and a .which is engaged by a clampStl-servingrat the same time groove at its outside, the bead and thegroove preferably 1 .38 a structural element .for thenose 49 in. thefront edge COIICSPOHdiIIgTO eaClTOtheI; SOthQt a kind of crank i3 *15110f the. seat covering. Said clamp SficonSistsof a. flat formed. Thegroove at the outside ofthis. portion 73 is iron and is. rivetedv to thememberidli with thebent-off gag d by a corresponding bead =82 of theback portion warms 52'of-its downwardly extending legs. 8s). The clampor-tensioning strap 84= serves to keep the v As a tensioning bandsSi, I.use here a simple flat iron. parts engaged. :"Th front endof the band isbent ofiin a curveand lies Fig. 11 shows an embodiment similar to Fig.10, where -in:.the.clarnping position behind a nose 56 pressed outthetsupporting-element 86 isagain'arranged at'the inside. :from' thepan-shaped .membertdd. Here the seat cover- 38 is'integral with theback9ti, as in ::The profiled band 4 ofathe supporting frame in the Fig.9. At the outsideythere is againprovided a clamp embodiment according toFigs. 1 and 3, and the member 40 in the embodiment according to Figs. 4and 5, are pro- .vided with suitable means by which the seat. can beconmnectedthrough the supporting frame with the vehicle or ..also with asuitable spring frame of known design. For H this purpose preferably. anoblong hole 5. or 41 respec- 5 tively is provided, which may be arrangedapproximately inthe .axis of the seat; Of course, additional fastening:holes may also be provided in the legsof the band 2. or in ..'.thecorresponding parts of the member 40, if this should .prove necessary.

- or tensioning strap which keeps the bead 94 engaged with thewerticalportion 96 of the supporting element 86.

As in Figs. 1 to 3, the supporting elements 70, 72, 86 in Figs. 9 tollmaybe separate members which are fastened on the supporting frame. Butit is also possible to wdesign-them as-parts of a single-piecepan-shaped element corresponding to the, embodimentof Figs. 4 and 5.

As will be seen from the foregoing specificationand the drawing, theinvention provides a seat which meets in an ideal. manner therequirements with regard to simple manufacture and assembly, but which,in additiomalso has a "The fastening of the ront edgeof the back portion26, :which is one of the most highly stressed areas, presents a specificproblem. Figs. 6 to 8 show. possibilities of rein- 5 forcing the back atthis point without impairing. in any I way the advantages of theinvention. As itv will be seen from Fig. 6, the back 26 is providedalong its edge at the outside, with a reinforcement 29 which preferablyat the front edge of the back passes into the bead at. the lower rim.The thickness of this reinforcement is preferably so selected that itcorresponds, at least at; the transition point into the bead, to thethickness of said bead. The

width of the reinforcement 29 can be dimensionedas required. In order tomake the above-mentioned passage of the reinforcement 29 into theholding bead possible,

-. the vertical portion 24 of the supporting element 14 can beprovidedin the region above the groove with a cutout 31 which makes it possibleto let the reinforcement 29 pass into the bead 23 without any loss ofthickness. Instead of a cutout, this region may also be provided with acorresponding bend perpendicular to the groove of the leg 24 receivingthe bead. Figs. 7 and Sshow .on an enlarged scale the two possibilities.Fig. 7 shows'the embodiment with the cutout, and Fig. 8 the one with thebend.

Due to the unreduced transition of the reinforcement 29.- into the bead28, it is nowpossible to insert without zany difficulties in thisregion, a reinforcement inthe form of a wire or the like, which extendsangularly. with its one leg into the reinforcement 29. and with itsother leg into ithe bead 28. Such a reinforcement is indicated at 33 inFig. 6.

:.As will be noted from Fig. 12, in the area in front of the front edgeof the back portion, the down-turned portion of the seat cover may be sodesigned that the profile conforms to the profileformed in the otherareas by the combination of the lower edge of the back portion carryingthe bead 28, with the portion 22carrying thebead 3t).

In this way, it is possible to give to the supporting eleeiment'the sameprofile over the entire length.

64 which carries on its outside a bead 66, which under the action of aclarnpor 'tensioning strap 68 is pressed greater strength compared toknown seat structures, particularly asfar as the'fastening of the seatcover and of r the back on the supporting frame is concerned.

The seat isassembled in a simple manner by bringing the flexible backand the seat cover in engagement with the supporting elements, whereuponthe clamp or tension- --ing strap is inserted and locked by simplemanipulations.

Subsequently, the cover is clamped by inserting the nose clamp. In thisway, the use of rivets, screws and the like is completely eliminated inthe assembly. Due to the fact that the beads extend over the entirefastening edge,

' loeal'st-ress peaks, as they occur in'fastening' with rivets or-thelike, are-avoided, because the stress is uniformly distributed over theentire circumference.

' Iclaim:

1.;In a vehicle seat assembly suitable for tractors and the like, a seatcomprising a flexible base-and a flexible back,.a frame, a substantially'U-shaped-angular sheet member supporting the rear and sides of theouter edge of said -base,.-said angular-member having a horizontalanduan upturnedportion, the horizontal portion being secured to saidframe and open towards the front of the seat, a circumferential groovein said upturned portion, a horizontally projecting head on saidseatengaging said groove, and .means' holding said bead. and-groove inengaged position.

2. A vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 1,

I whereinsaid-ibase-portion and back portion ofthe seat are integralwith each other.

3. In a vehicle seat assembly suitable for tractors and the like, a seatcomprising a flexible :base'sheet and a flexible back sheet, said back"sheet extending along the rear edge and at least part of the lateraledges of said base: sheet,- a frame, ausubstantially U-shaped angular.sheetmembersupporting the rear and sides ofthe outer edgeof saidxbase,.said angular member having a hori- .:zontal and angupturned portion,the-horizontal portion engaging'said-groove, means holding said bead andgroove i in engaged-1 position, and means on the front end of said framesupporting the-central frontportion-only of said -:base.:sheet.

4. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3 wherein said base sheet is bentdownwardly in contact with said back sheet and embraces the lower rim ofsaid back sheet.

5. A seat assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said bead is providedat the outside of said back sheet along the lower edge thereof.

6. A seat assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said supporting meanson the front end of the frame is a bracket and wherein said base sheetforms in the center of the front edge a loop engaged by said bracket.

7. A vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said frame hasa dish-like form and is integral with said supporting member.

8. In a vehicle seat assembly suitable for tractors and the like, a seatcomprising a flexible base sheet and a flexible back sheet, the rearportion of said base sheet bent downwardly and joined to said back sheetby an interengaging rib and groove connection, a frame, a substantiallyU-shaped angular sheet member supporting the rear and sides of the outeredge of said base, said angular member having a horizontal and anupturned portion, the horizontal portion being secured to said frame andopen towards the front of the seat, a circumferential groove in saidupturned portion, a horizontally project- 6 ing head in one of saidjoined sheets engaging said groove, means holding said head and grooveand said joined sheets in engaged position, and means on the front endof said frame supporting the central front portion only of said basesheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS604,955 Avery May 31, 1898 957,411 Christensen May 10, 1910 1,186,910Kilburn June 13, 1916 1,256,726 Pike Feb. 19, 1918 1,756,182 Drane Apr.29, 1930 1,900,769 Schemmel Mar. 7, 1933 2,266,896 Nordmark Dec. 23,1941 2,350,679 Hann June 6, 1944 2,354,728 Asaro Aug. 1, 1944 2,410,727Furbish Nov. 5, 1946 2,509,580 Smith May 30, 1950 2,703,135 LeathermanMar. 1, 1955 OTHER REFERENCES Schumann, German application 17,274, May30, 1956.

